A spectacular theft took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris on October 19, 2025, where a group of thieves managed to steal eight priceless pieces of jewelry from the Napoleonic era, valued at around €88 million.
The operation lasted only seven minutes and occurred in the morning, shortly after the museum opened.
The thieves used mobile ladders to access the Apollo Gallery, breaking display cases and seizing the jewels that once belonged to French emperors and kings of the 19th century.
Among the stolen items were a diamond and emerald crown that belonged to Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, and a diamond and emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to Marie-Louise, The Guardian reports.
Some of the jewelry was abandoned during the escape, including a crown and several tools used in the theft. Evidence such as a yellow vest containing DNA traces was found at the scene.
The president of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, is set to appear before the French Parliament’s Culture Committee to explain how the theft occurred and what security measures were in place.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati defended the museum’s current security system, stressing that it “did not fail,” but acknowledged the need for improvements, including the installation of new CCTV cameras. Since the museum is state-owned, the stolen items were not covered by insurance.
The incident has raised serious concerns about museum security in France, especially since it follows several recent thefts, including the robbery of valuable jewels from the Natural History Museum in Paris and another museum in Limoges.
The investigation is being led by prosecutors and special police units, including the BRB and cultural property trafficking investigators.
